Peach tree--Tyson 820 Cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct peach tree variety of chance seedling origin is provided. This new variety is a very late maturing yellow freestone peach variety which bears abundant, regular crops of large round meaty fruit having an attractive red and yellow skin coloration. The fruit flesh has a mild and delicious flavor and is of a rich yellow color which resists browning when exposed to air. The fruit buds exhibit superior winter hardiness. Also, the variety has exhibited tolerance to major peach diseases common to the southeastern portion of the United States.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of peach tree originated in the cultivatedstate in my orchard at Monroe, N.C., as a chance seedling in a 1975planting of Louisiana Surecrop peach trees budded to Lovell seedlingrootstock. The present variety was derived from a shoot which isbelieved to have developd from one of the seedling rootstocks.

In 1978 the present variety was noted during its first year of bearingbecause of its abundant production of large very late-maturing peaches.Continued observation of this variety has convinced me that it is a newand distinct variety.

I have observed at various test orchard locations that the presentvariety is large, vigorous, and upright, and has a chilling requirementof approximately 850 hours. In orchards at Monroe, N.C., the new varietyhas exhibited exceptional winter hardiness by cropping well while otheradjacent standard varieties have produced no fruit due to the loss ofblossom buds caused by winter freezing. At the Sandhills ResearchStation of North Carolina State University at Jackson Springs, N.C., thepresent variety was observed not to become infected by common bacterialleaf spot (causal organism, Xanthomonas pruni E. F. Smith) underconditions favorable to the development of this disease.

The new variety of the present invention is distinguishable by theabundant production of high quality fruit very late in the peach harvestseason. The fruit is produced approximately 18 to 20 days after that ofthe Elberta variety, and approximately 8 to 10 days after that of theRio Oso Gem variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 84). The fruit is above averagein size, possesses a very attractive red-blush over a yellow groundcolor, is of good eating quality, and is notable because the yellowmeaty flesh will not brown when cut and exposed to air as is common withother peach varieties.

Asexual propagation of the new variety on my behalf by budding in 1979at the Sandhills Research Station, Jackson Springs, N.C., and subsequentobservation by me has demonstrated that its combination ofcharacteristics comes true to form and is established and is transmittedthrough succeeding propagation. All specimens described herein weregrown in Union County, N.C.

The new variety has been named the TYSON 820 cultivar and is beingmarketed by Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company under the STARKand FINALE trademarks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows typical specimens of the fruit andfoliage of the new variety in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety where colorterminology is to be accorded its ordinary dictionary significanceexcept where otherwise indicated. The specimens described were grown atMonroe, Union County, N.C. The characteristics were observed for amature 8 year-old tree.

Representative dates of first and last pickings at Union County, N.C.are Aug. 18, and Aug. 21, 1981.

Tree: Large size; vigorous; upright; medium dense; very productive;regular bearing.

Trunk.--Size. -- Medium. Texture. -- Medium rough.

Branches.--Size -- Medium. Texture -- Medium Color -- Greyish brown tobrown. Lenticels -- Medium large in size; medium in number.

Leaves.--Size -- Medium; average length approximately 63/4 inches;average width approximately 11/2 inches. Shape -- Lanceolate; acuteapex; acute base. Texture -- Upper surface smooth; lower surface smoothwith raised veins. Color -- Upper Surface -- Forest Green, Plate XVII 29m, Ridgway Color Standards and Nomenclature. Color -- Under Surface --Bice Green, Plate XVII 29 k, Ridgway Color Standards and Nomenclature.Margin -- Crenate. Petiole -- Short, average length approximately 3/8inch. Glands -- Medium small, reniform, approximately 4 to 7 in number,most often 6 in number, located on lower leaf margin and upper portionof petiole.

Flowers: Early; light pink to very nearly white, large and showy; pollenis present.

Fruit: Maturity when described -- Eating ripe, date -- Aug. 29, 1983.

Size.--Large, uniform. Axial diameter -- Approximately 23/4 to 3 inches.Transverse in suture plane -- Approximately 27/8 to 31/8 inches. Atright angle to suture plane -- Approximately 27/8 to 3 inches.

Form.--Globose, uniform, very nearly symmetrical.

Suture.--Narrow and shallow, continues from apex to base.

Ventral surface.--Rounded and equal.

Cavity.--Rounded, obtuse, approximately 3/8 inch deep and approximately1 inch wide.

Base.--Rounded.

Apex.--Rounded, with a very slight depression containing a very smalltip.

Skin.--Medium thickness, tenacious to flesh no tendency to crack in wetseason, slight tendency to crack in dry season, scant and short down.Color -- Ground color is straw yellow, Plate XVI 21d, Ridgway ColorStandards and Nomenclature with an approximately 60 to 70 percent redblush which is Dragon's-blood-Red, Plate XIII 5k, Ridgway ColorStandards and Nomenclature.

Flesh.--Color -- Antimony Yellow, Plate XV 17b, Ridgway Color Standardsand Nomenclature, mottled with red next to the pit, the surface of thepit cavity is red with white blotching. Texture -- Meaty. Juice --Moderate. Ripens -- Uniformly. Flavor -- Subacid to mild. Fibers -- Fewand fine. Aroma -- Distinct. Eating quality -- Good, flesh issubstantially non-browning upon exposure to air.

Stone.--Freestone; parts smoothly from the flesh. Size -- Medium,average length approximately 11/2 inch and average thicknessapproximately 7/8 inch. Base -- Hilum. Apex -- Accuminate. Sides --Nearly equal. Surface -- Regularly furrowed throughout. Color -- Prout'sBrown, Plate XV 15 m, Ridgway Color Standards and Nomenclature.

Use: Local and long distance market, dessert.

Keeping quality: Good.

Shipping quality: Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, substantially asillustrated and described, characterized by (a) a large and vigorousgrowth habit, (b) the exceptional winter hardiness of fruit buds, and(c) the ability to regularly and abundantly yield large very latematuring fruit of good quality having an attractive red and yellow skincoloration and a meaty substantially non-browning yellow flesh whichpossesses good eating and shipping qualities.